f»2 PIGEOXS AXD ALL AHOFT TITEM. 



Again, there are some fanciers wlio have nearly the right 

 kind of shipping coop, but not quite, because they have one 

 lower lid that covers the whole lot. If you open the lid over 

 one compartment, it opens overall the others, and wild birds 

 will continually escape. 



There is just exactly one kind of box to ship to a show. 

 One and no other; and that is a box with a double lid and a. 

 compartment for each bird, with the lid for that compart- 

 ment neparute from the others. 



A box of this kind will last a life time. I am going to de- 

 scribe it carefully so that no fancier can say he didn't know 

 how to make it. First decide on the number of birds you 

 want it to hold, and as to compartments be governed by the 

 sixe of the birds. I used to believe in a V shaped compart- 

 ment for small birds, but have seen so luany birds smothered 

 of late years, that I am now in favor of a square for each. 



The V shaped saved room, that's all. A bird's head would 

 go towards the front in one, and vice versa in the next, and 

 it was very complete and nice, but just exactly the size for 

 an express messenger to " pitch" into the wagon, crouton 

 the walk. I don't like these nice little "handy'' boxes. 

 They are too handy. 



But to return to the proper box. Make it a little higher 

 than you need, so that the false lid will l)e just high enough 

 for ventilation. The lid proper is simply for protection. 



In the false lid, bore plenty of holes. In fact if it is more 

 lioles than lid, so much the better. Then make holes all 

 around the box ahoee the false lid, but not in the lid proper. 



Fasten the lid with four large screws. One need not fear 

 theft, for the thief who has made up his mind to steal birds 

 can far more easily break a padlock or force a stajile, than 

 he can unscrew four large screws. Again ; the lock ould be 



